Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1887-01-05

her never to take another wife.
Everything ran smoothly until 1884,
when she commenced to notice a change
in his department towards her. lie APP
peared i'll at ease, nervous, and greatly
distressed in mind. She, however, did
not surmse the cause Of the change un-
til sometime in September, when he re-
turned from professed business trip to
the northern part Of the Territory lie
appeared greatly worried, and evnced
by his manner that something OF more
than ordinary importance was working
upon his mind. On the following Sunday
he declined going to meeting, but proposed
that they should take walk. During
the walk he made several attempts to
unbosom himself. but evidently could
not bring his courage up to the sticking
point Upon their return to the house,
she insisted upon knowing what was
troubling him, when he finally blurted
out: "Sarah, may as we'll tell you now |
as later. While / was away ] married |
Kate Smith at Logan" His manner and |
certain facts which had come to her
knowledge had partially prepared her Tor
this disclosure, so she received it with
much more fortitude than might
have been expected. She replied to
him calmly, but with iirmness and reso-
luton. She told him that he could have
his new wife, but from that moment her
marital relations with him would cease.
He tried to dissuade her from this
course, but she was determined, and
it was finally arranged that he was to
provide home for her and her children
at Logan. She went to that place, and
after residing there for upwards OF year,
was one day overwhelmed with astonish-
ment and indignation when divorce pa
pers were served upon her at the instance
of her husband, the alleged cause in the
complaint being wilful desertion. She
Immediately commenced correspondence
with an attorney in this city and ar
ranged with him to defend the case.
Shortly before the time for the trial she
came down here. Her husband, being
informed by telegraph from Logan OF her
movement, met her as she left the depot.
In reply to his question il she intended to
defend the suit, she most decidedly an
swered that she would contest it to the
bitter end. She moreover warned him
that she would withhold nothing at
the trial, but that all the facts would
come out, and that he must suffer
the consequences. She assured him
however, that he was welcome tc
! his new wife that she would be content
= to'live apart from him, but that she woult
not submit to his obtaining a divorce
upon the false allegation OF wilful deser
ton, he himself being the deserter See
ing the penitentiary walls looming NJ
: before him, he finally promised to with
draw the suit and continue to provide fo
her and Children ii she would quietly re
! turn to Logan. Foolishly relying upor
his promise, she consented and returned
> to her abode in the Temple town OF th'
t North. Her surprise, grief and anger cal
: scarcely be imagined when q few week
| afterwards she was officially informe,
l that decree of divorce had been entered
t against her in this city. This is the story
OF the betrayed wife, and if she is per
) mitted to testify at the trial at Ogden
) such will be the evidence which will ap
pear upon the records OF the First Distric
J Court OF this Territory. 1t is to be hopeC
| that no technically OF the law will pre-
vent her from testifying. She has SUI
: fered most infamous wrong, and it i
due to her and to the ends OF justice tina
she should be avenged and the outraged
: law OF the Nation vindicated. Basset
} holds the Bishoprc formerly held by
3 Bishop Sharp in this city. lie is ;
e typical saint, and if convicted will doubt
= less refuse to obey the law and will ac
| cept his punishment ''for conscience
!, sake" For conscience sake! Where
Y was his conscience when he ignored that
r portion OF the revelation" in which he
: processes to religiously believe, whicl
$ forbds marriage to the second or any
: succeeding wife without the consent o.
n the first? That portion OF the "revela
e tion''-the only part which emit
n the faintest glimmering OF decency ol
h humanity - is rejected in more
e than half OF the plural mar
y raiges which are consummated il
: this Territory. In more than three
t fourths of the remainder, unwilling con
l sent is extorted by threats, and appeal
/, to the fanatical fears OF the unhapp
t victims. How sickening is the hypocris
d which processes acceptance OF martyr
/ dom in behalf of divine commandment
l. the very essence OF which is so irrelig
+ iously rejected. The story OF the I'm
= happy wife of Bishop Bassett is but tn
: counterpart OF hundreds and perhap
l. thousands OF others that might b
l. written, OF the experience OF the lega
6 wives OF the polygamous members ci tn
l. Mormon Church.
e THE NEVADA SENATORSHIP,